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**FGS Intro                  and DisclaimerWorkshop                  IntroductionScientific                  OverviewPanel                                    DiscussionsWorkshop                                    PhotosPeer                  Review ReportField Map                  Workshop IntroductionProblem            Statement
Wakulla Spring is the third largest spring in            Florida and one of the best known. The spring is the centerpiece of            Wakulla Springs State Park, considered the crown jewel of the            Florida parks. It discharges an average of 250 million gallons of            water per day from the Floridan aquifer to form the Wakulla River.            It has the largest range of discharge of any spring in Florida, ~80            million gallons per day at low stage and > 1 billion gallons per            day at high stage. The sheer size of the spring basin is uniquely            impressive being several hundred feet across and more than 100 feet            deep. The spring pool contains the entrance to one of the longest            and deepest underwater caves in the world having more than 10 miles            of mapped passages that extend both north and south from the spring.

**Glass-bottom boat over            Wakulla Spring**

            The park features glass bottom boat tours that enthrall visitors            when the water is clear with views of the spring and cave entrance.            Wakulla Spring is also a national cultural treasure being the site            of Indian artifacts, and the setting for classic movies such as the            original Tarzan series and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.               Unfortunately, water quality in Wakulla Spring has been            in decline for more than a decade due to rising nitrate levels,            algae blooms and a growth explosion of Hydrilla that chokes the            spring and causes the loss of native species, including the apple snail            and limpkin. The decline in water clarity has kept the glass bottom            boats at the docks and tourists and cave explorers waiting for clear            water that seldom comes. Park attendance has dropped in recent years            by approximately 20,000 visitors per year.
Purpose
The purpose of this workshop was to present an overview of the broad            and growing scientific evidence linking water quality decline at            Wakulla Spring with land use practices in the region. The workshop            convened scientific and engineering experts to present the current            understanding of groundwater and surface water flow patterns through            the Woodville Karst Plain, the sources of pollution to Wakulla            Springs, and explore the applicability and effectiveness of advanced            technologies as solutions to the problem of degrading spring water            quality and clarity. The primary goal of this workshop was to            disseminate this knowledge to local decision makers and encourage            cooperative proactive governmental investment in water resource            protection programs in the Woodville Karst Plain basin.
General Workshop Format
The workshop convened as a plenary session on Thursday morning,            May 12. Scientists currently engaged in research projects within the            Woodville Karst Plain gave presentations on groundwater and surface            water flow patterns and sources of pollution in the Woodville Karst            Plain. Afterward, the group broke out into three discussion sessions            focused on the science and technologies specific to abating three            important sources of nutrient loading in the basin: stormwater,            septic systems, and wastewater treatment facilities. The discussion            sessions each contained four or five panelists who gave short            presentations on the problems from their perspective and a moderator            who guided subsequent discussions. The goal for each session was to            build a consensus of opinion and recommendations for the best course            of action to solve the problems. On Friday morning, May 13, the            plenary session reconvened and the moderators presented the            conclusions and recommendations derived in each session. The            workshop then concluded with lunch and a summary by the emcee.            Members of the Woodville Karst Plain Project presented a video            luncheon presentation, Exploring Wakulla Cave, on Thursday, May 12.            A half-day field trip was offered on Wednesday, May 11, to provide            an overview of the hydrogeologic setting and sources of pollutions. 
Useful Links- 1000                Friends of Florida
- City                of Tallahassee Public Works 
- Department of Health 
- FGS/FSU                Woodville Karst Plain Research
- FGS - Hydrogeology Research                
- Florida Department of Community Affairs - Springs Protection                
- Florida Springs                
- Hydrogeology                Consortium
- Leon                County Capital Area Flood Warning Network
- Northwest Florida Water Management District               
- Wakulla County, Florida 
- Wakulla                Springs State Park

            Nitrate levels measured in            the Wakulla Spring basin between 1971 and 2004

            Algae and hydrilla covering the Wakulla Spring basin near the            platform

            Measured reduction of water clarity in the Wakulla Spring basin based            on the number of days the glass bottom boats cannot run
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